John Brunner (MO)

THE CANDIDATE

Name: John Brunner

Family: John and his wife, Jan, have three children and six grandchildren

Personal Biography: John Brunner earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Harding University, and his M.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. He is the third generation of the Brunner family to lead Vi-Jon, a private-label personal care products manufacturing company founded in 1908 by his grandparents, Viola and John B. Brunner. Brunner served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Marines Corps as a Captain, and is now a member of the board of deacons at his church.

Political Biography: This is Brunner's first foray into politics, motivated by a desire to be a strong voice for the Constitution in the US Senate.

THE RACE

Primary Election: August 7, 2012

General Election: November 6, 2012

The District: Brunner faces two Establishment Republicans in the GOP primary, after which he will face Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill. This will be McCaskill's first race for re-election in a slightly Republican-leaning state, and the race is considered by election analysts to be a toss-up.

THE ISSUES

Economics

Supports a full audit of the Federal Reserve

Opposes quantitative easing

Opposes corporate welfare

Opposes all tax increases

Foreign Policy

Believes only Congress can declare war

Supports removing troops from Iraq

Supports removing troops from Afghanistan

Wants to find and cut waste in the military budget

Opposes Nation Building

Believes we cannot afford to continue our foreign aid

Civil Liberties

Opposes the unconstitutional provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

Opposes the unconstitutional provisions of the PATRIOT Act

Opposes the TSA

Opposes SOPA and all restrictions on internet freedom

Federalism & the 10th Amendment

Supports federalism on all legislation not specifically authorized in the Constitution